Kirby's Dream Buffet: Difference between revisions

{{Featured}}{{Title font}}{{Infobox-Game

|image=<tabs>

[[File:KDB cover art.jpg|300px]]

|caption=Digital cover art, logos, and box art for '''''Kirby's Dream Buffet'''''

|developer=[[HAL Laboratory]]

|publisher=[[Nintendo]]

|released=August 17th, 2022<br>{{Released|South Korea|September 15th, 2022}} (physical download code version)

|platforms=Nintendo Switch

|rating={{ratings|esrb=e|pegi=3|cero=a}}

}}{{quote|In this competitive action game, four shrunken Kirbys roll through a world of sweets to see who can eat the most strawberries. Transform into foods and use Copy Food Abilities to win! Play solo or with up to three rivals using local wireless or an online connection.|Past Adventures section in ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe''}}

<onlyinclude>{{#ifeq:{{{transcludesection|}}}|lead|

'''''Kirby's Dream Buffet''''' is a small action/racing spin-off game for the [[Kirby (series)|''Kirby'' series]], released digitally on the [[Nintendo Switch]]. In this game, [[Kirby]], a handful of [[Color|different-color]] [[Kirby (species)|Kirby clones]], and several [[Waddle Dee]]s are shrunk down to the size of peas by the magical [[Dream Fork]] and roll around atop cakes, pastries, and other confections in a race to eat the most [[Strawberry|strawberries]] and other fruit, growing in size and speed the more fruit is consumed. After competing in a couple of linear [[Race (Kirby's Dream Buffet)|race tracks]] and [[Minigame|a short mini-challenge]], the Kirbys face off in one last [[Battle Royale (Kirby's Dream Buffet)|Battle Royale match]] where they fight each other for their strawberries using [[Copy Food]] abilities and other items, with the largest Kirby at the end of it all being declared the winner.

''Kirby's Dream Buffet'' is built as a lightweight and quick-to-play multiplayer title, and (unlike many of its predecessors) lacks a story mode of any kind, making it similar to other small spin-off games such as ''[[Kirby Fighters Deluxe]]'' or ''[[Kirby's Blowout Blast]]'', though its most direct resemblance may be ''[[Kirby Air Ride]]'' (the only other racing game in the series). In addition to its base gameplay, ''Kirby's Dream Buffet'' features local and online multiplayer functionality (the latter using the Nintendo Switch Online service), a large amount of collectibles in the form of [[Character Treat]]s, and a [[Free Rolling]] mode that allows the player to explore and goof around in a distinct open area not used in regular gameplay. In addition to some original tracks, the game also features many songs from previous ''Kirby'' titles, in the form of both originals and rearrangements.

 

==Story==

[[File:KDB Kirby falling into cake screenshot.png|thumb|left|200px|Kirby is shrunk down by the power of the enchanted Dream Fork, and lands upon the now-relatively-giant cake.]]

''Kirby's Dream Buffet'' does not have a story mode whatsoever; due to its multiplayer focus, it is open-ended. The little story that exists is confined to the game's marketing, the [[Tasty Tidbit]]s, and the opening [[cutscene]]. In it, [[Kirby]] is invited to a "gourmet festival" at the "Dream Restaurant" where he finds a lavishly-decorated cake covered in strawberries. Instead of waiting for the festival to start, Kirby decides to eat the cake using the [[Dream Fork]], which was laying on the table nearby. Just as Kirby is about to dig in, however, he is zapped by the fork's magical powers and is shrunk down significantly (it is explained later that the fork has the power to make dreams come true, and it was Kirby's dream to eat a mountain-sized cake). After falling into the cake and getting his bearings, Kirby becomes overwhelmingly happy about the idea of eating such a large amount of delicious dessert. From here, he is joined by other Kirbys that also fall into the cake, and they start to roll up the slopes of it, setting the scenario of the game.

==Gameplay==

''Kirby's Dream Buffet'' is an action multiplayer game with a core focus on racing and battle modes. The goal of each mode is to collect the most [[Strawberry|strawberries]] and grow to the largest size to be declared the winner, using whatever other items or course elements appear along the way to gain an advantage. Strawberries can be obtained along the various courses either out in the open, dropped from above, contained in boxes, or stolen from rivals. During gameplay, larger Kirbys generally have an advantage over smaller ones, as they roll faster and can bounce and resist being bounced by opponents more easily, though there are a few disadvantages (more details on the [[Strawberry]] page). In addition to strawberries, other types of fruit can appear known as "mission fruit", and collecting those during races can help Kirby gain certain bonuses during the results screen at the end of the '''[[Gourmet Grand Prix]]'''.

Game modes can be played separately or together in the aforementioned Gourmet Grand Prix mode. There is also a [[Free Rolling]] mode, where players can explore a big open area without any objectives (and no time limit if playing solo). Gameplay can take place in local or online [[multiplayer]] and/or against [[CPU]] opponents. Collecting strawberries also contributes to a level-based ranking system called the [[Gourmet Rank]] (similar to the [[Fighters Rank]] used in ''[[Kirby Fighters 2]]'') which allows the player to unlock different [[Color]]s and [[Costumes]] for their Kirby, or unlock bonus music tracks to listen to during races. Due to the lack of a story mode, advancing the Gourmet Rank to its maximum level of 135 is the main means of progression in ''Kirby's Dream Buffet'' (though a separate ranking system is used for online multiplayer matchmaking). Additional background music will also be available if the player owns ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'', ''[[Super Kirby Clash]]'', ''Kirby Fighters 2'', or ''Kirby and the Forgotten Land'', gaining three bonus tracks per game owned. Lastly, [[Character Treat]]s can be collected to use as starting pedestals in races and to decorate the cake on the Home Table (the main menu for the game).

|Kirby turns into a carrot and can dig through the ground to avoid attack, then pop up to hit opponents from below. Kirby can also move in a circle to attack opponents with a Quake Surge.

|Kirby turns into a gummy spring and can launch to a distant point ahead on the race track, landing with a splash attack similar to Stone.

|Kirby turns into an amorphous blob of jelly and can phase through breakable barriers and enemy attacks. He can also create globs of jelly that slows down other Kirbys.

|Kirby turns into a brick of chocolate and pounds the ground, creating a shockwave that can damage opponents. The player can also hold down the R button to create a bigger shockwave.

|Kirby turns into a cup of frosting and can spin around, creating a vortex that grabs strawberries from a distance and defeats enemies.

|Bronto Burt flies slowly in set patterns and can often be seen carrying one or more strawberries. Here, he has been made to resemble a jawbreaker.

|Gordo moves back and forth or holds position, and stuns any Kirby who makes contact with him. Here, he resembles a jawbreaker.

==Stages==

!colspan=2|HAL Laboratory, Inc.<br>Nintendo<br><br>HAL Laboratory, Inc. and Nintendo are the authors of this software for the purpose of copyright.<br>All rights reserved.<br>© HAL Laboratory, Inc. / Nintendo

 

 

 

 

 

 

==Trivia==

*The game's opening cutscene greatly mirrors the opening of the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA6cqE5gDIs announcement trailer] for ''[[Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition]]'', as both feature Kirby admiring an ornately-decorated cake topped with strawberries with a peach backdrop.

*Initially, the North American website for ''Kirby's Dream Buffet'' mistakenly used a screenshot of a Memorial Song above a caption describing the [[Character Treat]]s. This would be corrected a few days later, but the original mistake can still be seen on [https://web.archive.org/web/20220811130334/https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/kirbys-dream-buffet-switch/ archives of the site].

KDB Key Artwork 2.jpg|Key art without the logo